Sunday, October 21, 2012

Deaths Head Girls (With Mounts), 1915

So this must be why little girls dream of being princesses. Here, on the left, in the garb of the Death's Head Hussars, famed German cavalry regiment, Princess Victoria Luise of Prussia--the only daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm--demonstrates her bloodthirsty, happy-go-lucky spirit. She lived until 1980.

On the right: Princess Cecilie, wife of Frederick William, Crown Prince of Prussia. Cecilie--former Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin--married the Prince in 1905 in a spectacular ceremony complete with 'artistically
decorated procession through the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin.'

'Cecilie
quickly adapted to the role of Crown Princess' (according to Wikipedia) 'and became popular both with
the public and within the court. She is described as quiet but
friendly, a natural beauty with an interest in fashion.' The Pickelhaube suggests as much.